ETIAS vs ESTA vs UK ETA: Which Travel Authorisation Do You Need?

ETIAS, ESTA and the UK ETA are three separate systems for three different destinations — you may need one, two or all three depending on where you travel. ESTA is for the United States and is live now (about US$21, valid 2 years). The UK ETA is for the United Kingdom and is live now (roughly £16–£20, valid 2 years). ETIAS is for 30 European countries and is not live yet (€20 when it launches, expected 2027). All three are online authorisations for visa-exempt visitors on short trips — none of them is a visa.

Quick comparison

Think of them by destination, not by name:

• Going to the USA? You need ESTA (if you are from a Visa Waiver Program country).
• Going to the UK? You need a UK ETA (if you are a visa-exempt visitor).
• Going to Europe’s Schengen Area? You will need ETIAS — but only once it launches, which has not happened yet.

ESTA (United States) — live now

ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) is required for citizens of Visa Waiver Program countries visiting the US for tourism, business or transit. It is valid for two years or until your passport expires, allows multiple entries, and each stay can be up to 90 days. The fee rose to US$21 in 2025. Apply only on the official US Customs and Border Protection ESTA site, ideally at least 72 hours before travel. Confirm the current fee on the official CBP website before paying.

UK ETA (United Kingdom) — live now

The UK Electronic Travel Authorisation is required for visa-exempt visitors to the United Kingdom, including most European nationals since April 2025. It is valid for two years or until your passport expires, permits multiple visits of up to six months each, and is applied for through the official UK ETA app or on gov.uk. The fee has risen over time — it is in the region of £16 to £20, so check the current amount on gov.uk before applying. British and Irish citizens, and anyone who already holds a UK visa or residence status, do not need one. See our full UK ETA guide for details.

ETIAS (Europe) — not live yet

ETIAS will be required for visa-exempt visitors to 30 European countries, for short stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. The fee will be €20 (free for under-18s and over-70s), and it is expected to be valid for up to three years or until your passport expires. Crucially, ETIAS is not operational as of October 2026 — there is no confirmed start date and 2027 is the likely window. Do not pay any website offering ETIAS today. Our full ETIAS explainer covers the current status.

What they have in common

• They are not visas. They are lighter, cheaper online authorisations for people who are already visa-exempt.
• They link to your passport. Renew your passport and you need to reapply.
• They are for short stays — tourism, business or transit, not work or long-term residence.
• Apply only on official sites. Third-party “application services” add cost and risk for no benefit.

How they differ

The big practical differences are timing and status. ESTA and the UK ETA already affect travellers today; ETIAS does not yet. Fees differ (US$21, ~£16–£20, €20), and the permitted stay differs — the UK ETA allows visits of up to six months, while ESTA and ETIAS cover stays up to 90 days. Always confirm fees and rules on each country’s official source, because all three have changed their fees in the past couple of years.

Which do you actually need?

Map it to your itinerary. A single trip to London needs only a UK ETA. A US holiday needs only ESTA. A European city break will eventually need ETIAS but does not yet. A multi-country trip — say London, then Paris, then New York — could eventually involve all three. Use our visa & entry checker to confirm what your nationality needs for each destination, then sort connectivity with a local eSIM and protect the trip with travel insurance.